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The Citizen, 1991-02-20, Page 1Welfare costs soar Huron cases up 58% over year See page 20 Sec page 13 Bulls lead Bulls edge Goderich in OT Sinfully funny ‘Sinners' a mid-winter delight See page 23 Brussels rail line gets reprieve Brussels will keep its rail line at least a little while longer under a ruling handed down by the Nation­ al Transportation Agency (NTA) earlier this month. Canadian National Railway had applied last summer to abandon the line from Listowel to Wingham through Ethel and Brussels. It had also applied to abandon the line in 1988 in an NTA hearing at Wing­ ham when a strong presentation bv Premdoor in Wingham said that despite CN’s statements that the line was losing money, increased business from the plant could help the line turn a profit in future. The Agency at the time ruled the line must be continued for another two years from the date of the ruling Feb. 13, 1989. Figures provided by CN said the line lost $20,785 in 1987 on 135 carloads of freight; $129,668 on 111 carloads in 1988 and $107,434 on 134 carloads in 1989. Premdoor made a presentation against the latest closing attempt, saying that its purchase of Century Wood Door Limited in Oct 1989 would mean an increase of 40-45 carloads of shipments under nor­ mal economic circumstances al­ though it predicted a drop in use in 1990. The NTA ruled that while the line isn’t profitable there is a reasonable possibility it will be­ come so and therefore that it is in the public interest to continue the operation of the line. Contest salutes Heritage Week It’s Heritage Week and a special Heritage Puzzler Contest will be found in the pages of this week’s Citizen. The contest features six photo­ graphs of buildings or parts of buildings in Blyth. Brussels, Wal­ ton and Belgrave. Each of the photographs has been cut into four pieces and each piece is in an advertisement sponsored by a local business. The object of the game is to cut out the pieces, paste them together on a sheet of paper and identify the building in question. The contest closes Feb. 28 and the draw will be made Friday, March 1. The first entrant drawn who has correctly assembled and identified the photos will receive a prize of $50. Complete details on the contest are on page 2. Deadline extended for Citizen of Year Citizen of the Year nomination deadline has been extended until the end of this week to allow for more nominations, particularly from Blyth. While as usual Brussels-area residents have flooded the office with nominations for worthy citi­ zens, Blyth has submitted the VOL. 7 NO. 07 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991.60 CENTS Getting ready Little Alyssa Ruttan, daughter of Don and Mary Lou of RR 2, Brussels rolls up her sleeves before digging into the tasty pancakes served at St. John’s Anglican Church’s annual Pancake Supper held on Tuesday, February 12. While the attendance was down somewhat from previous years Anglican Church Women, who sponsor the event were quite pleased with the turnout. the still Blyth council will listen to recycling talk Supporters of recycling in Blyth had best not hold their breath but Blvth councillors have at least agreed to listen to a recycling representative at an upcoming meeting. The issue was brought before names of only two candidates. The extension will allow more deserv­ ing Blyth residents to be nominat­ ed. As of Monday 19 nominations had been received for Brussels- area residents (some people have been nominated several times). Nominations for Citizen of the Year will be received until Friday. council Wednesday night by Coun­ cillor Lorna Fraser who said she had been approached by a resident about recycling. A spokesman for Bluewater Recycling would be happy to come to council and talk about the services offered by the agency that serves many munici­ palities in southern Huron and Lambton. But while councillors agreed they would listen to a presentation, two indicated they’re not likely to be persuaded. “1 don’t need some­ body to talk to me about it,” Reeve Albert Wasson said. He has been a vocal opponent of recycling until more markets are developed for the recycled products. Councillor Dave Lee said re­ cycling might make sense when markets have developed. ‘‘I’ll lis­ ten to him but it’ll be a long day before he can convince me.” With the current recession few manufac­ turers will be converting their plants to make use of recycled materials, he predicted. Councillor Steven Sparling ar­ gued that the real action in waste management needs to be taken at the manufacturing level to cut down on unnecessary packaging and.“half this garbage that never gets out of the post office door.” Councillor Fraser also mentioned she had been approached about council promoting the use of home composters In many communities, municipalities have taken part in a provincial program that subsidizes purchase of home composting units to save more materials from being sent to landfill sites. But the suggestion brought an immediate negative reaction. “Can people not help themselves a little bit?” wondered Helen Grubb, clerk-treasurer. She point­ ed out composters are readily available in stores now. Councillor Sparling said the com- poster campaign is just another extension of the mentality that says government will provide people with everything. Meanwhile there are indications there may be friction over cost sharing in the operatic n of the Blyth-Hullett landfill site. In the past costs had been shared 35 per cent by Blyth and 65 per cent by Continued on page 7